Teen shot several times in Swissvale as he left home for school

SWISSVALE, Pa. — A teen was shot Monday morning as he left his Swissvale home to go to school, according to police.

Police were called to the 2000 block of South Braddock Avenue for reports of a shooting around 6:30 a.m.

FREE APPS | NOW | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

• Teen shot while on his way to school in Swissvale
• Father of siblings of Texas toddler who died in oven speaks out
• Arrest made in connection to murder of pastor's pregnant wife
• PHOTOS: Best- and worst-dressed stars at the 2015 AMAs

Dana Lawrence, who identified herself as the victim's mother, told Channel 11's Steven Fisher that her son, 17-year-old Michael Copeland, was shot five times when someone rushed at him as he left his house to head to Woodland Hills High School.

"I was getting ready for work. I heard five shots and I ran outside. I yelled his name,” Lawrence said.

She told Channel 11 News that her son has a broken hip and a broken ankle, among other injuries.

“We believe the victim was targeted and the actor was on foot,” Allegheny County police Lt. Andy Schurman said.

Copeland’s family said that Copeland was hit by a train in July, an accident that left him with short-term memory loss. His family said he likely wouldn’t remember any disputes he might have had before that accident.

“If there was any beefs or anything that he was having with anybody, he does not remember. He has short-term memory loss. He had amnesia and all that, so I just don't know,” Lawrence said.

No arrests have been made in connection with Monday’s shooting.

"I just thank God that he is not dead,” Lawrence said. "It’s not worth dying. Whatever the reason, it’s not worth dying."

Woodland Hills School District Superintendent Alan Johnson released the following statement Monday afternoon:

"We're very saddened, and very angered by this. We're going to reach out to the family to see whatever assistance we can provide.

"We will, of course cooperate, with the authorities to see if there's anything we can do to find the people who did this horrible thing and bring them to justice."

WPXI